"We don't need no education / We don't need no thought control / No dark sarcasm in the classroom / Teachers leave them kids alone!"
From June to August in 2008, hoards of students took to the streets of Santiago for an extended protest against educational reforms.
Leo Johnston, an English documentary photographer, happened to be chilling in Chile at this time and, as every good photographer does, had his camera on hand to record the action. The attached photos represent the determination of one of South America's poorest countries to develop an education system that the students can be proud to be a part of.
Although June 25th's protest march began peacefully (exactly two years ago today), things went awry after thousands of students successfully blocked major roads, and seized a dozen downtown schools and four universities. The police then attacked them with water cannons and tear gas, and 456 protesters were eventually arrested. Johnston captured the riots as they developed over the months, demonstrating the escalation of the kids' demand for equal education. Respect.
Hey, teachers! Leave them kids alone!
More at
leojohnsonphotography.com.